Chief’s Grand Opening Sees Michael Jordan, Eli and Peyton Manning And More

Eric Church’s new six-story bar, Chief’s, located on lower Broadway in downtown Nashville, officially opened its doors on Friday (April 5). Designed to celebrate Church’s musical career, the establishment features a two-story live music venue named The Neon Steeple.

The bar, brought to life through a partnership between Church and AJ Capital Partners’ Ben Weprin, boasted a star-studded opening week with visits from Michael Jordan, Eli and Peyton Manning, Lainey Wilson and more.

 

Callie Babin Joins BBR Music Group/BMG Nashville

BBR Music Group/BMG Nashville has hired Callie Babin as Marketing Coordinator/Executive Assistant. Reporting to EVP, Recorded Music, JoJamie Hahr and Director, Marketing, Lauren Crawford, Babin will be responsible for assisting both Hahr and Crawford in their respective duties.

Prior to joining BBR Music Group/BMG Nashville, Babin gained experience through internships with Fab’rik, Dress Up Corporation and Entro USA, along with a stop at Warner Music Group as an Emerging Talent Associate. Babin can be reached at callie@bbrmusicgroup.com.

 

Craig Morgan Performs National Anthem at White Sox And Yankees Home Openers

Country music artist and Army Reserve soldier Craig Morgan sang the National Anthem in full uniform at the Chicago White Sox and New York Yankees MLB home openers. The patriotic tune echoed through Guaranteed Rate Field on March 28 and Yankee Stadium on April 5.

The performances came shortly after Morgan was appointed to Warrant Officer 1 after previously serving 17 years in the Army and Army Reserve. The artist returned to service in the Army Reserve last year following his swearing-in at the Grand Ole Opry on July 29, 2023.

Morgan continues to tour and release new music such as his recent, six-track project Enlisted with features from Trace Adkins, Luke Combs, Gary LeVox, Jelly Roll, Blake Shelton and Lainey Wilson.

 

Bri Bagwell Inks with New Frontier Touring

Bri Bagwell, the Texas Female Artist of the Decade, has signed a global representation deal with New Frontier Touring. Agent Alex Fang is set to manage Bagwell’s future performance opportunities.

“It’s always a great fortune in this business when you get to encounter someone who excels as much on stage as they do off,” Fang shares. “While any attendee of a Bri show is immediately in awe of her talent, charisma, and grace, those of us behind the scenes get to remain in awe of her hustle, her capabilities, and her ambition. Bri Bagwell encapsulates the modern musical maven and I’m beyond ecstatic so embark on this journey with her.”

Singer-songwriter Noah Hicks has signed with Nashville Harbor Records & Entertainment through a joint venture with Red Creative Records.

Hicks was raised on a chicken farm in Carrollton, Georgia, and his sound is heavily influenced by those dirt roads he grew up on and his strong connection to his home state. After making the move to Nashville in 2020 and signing with RED Creative Group, he quickly found his place among some of the city’s most respected writers and has collaborated with artists such as Rhett Akins, Ashley Cooke, Travis Denning and Jon Langston.

“Noah is a live wire! He lights up every room with his energy and southern charm, as well as his super-catchy songwriting,” shares Big Machine Label Group Chairman and CEO, Scott Borchetta.

“Scott and I have been following Noah’s career for a few years,” says Nashville Harbor Records & Entertainment President Jimmy Harnen. “His songwriting, live performances and endless energy fit perfectly with Nashville Harbor!”

The 23-year-old has amassed more than 60 million streams globally with “I Can Tell You’re Small Town,” which has sparked the creation of more than 29,000 videos. His track “Dirt On It” has been embraced by both NFL and MLB stadiums across the country.

“Scott and Jimmy have signed and worked with some of my favorite country artists of all time,” says Hicks. “It’s unreal having their support and getting to work with them. They’re the perfect addition to the team. I’m just so grateful. Let’s get to work!”

“Success is a word that Scott and his team know very well,” adds RED Creative Group Owner & Founder Jeremy Stover. “We’re excited to be partnering with Scott, Jimmy and the Nashville Harbor team to continue to build what was started at RED Creative Group with Noah Hicks.”

Ian Munsick will return to his home region of the Rockies on “The Country & Western Tour” this fall.

Kicking off Sept. 6, the tour will visit Montana, Colorado, Wyoming, New Mexico and more. A rotating lineup of guests, including Shane Smith & The Saints, Randy Rogers Band, Bryan Martin, Ole 60, Zandi Holup, Ryan Charles and The Song Swap—comprised of Jenna LaMaster, Faren Rachels and Kasey Tyndall, will join the headliner on the journey.

“We’re coming home!!! I am fully aware that the majority of our shows are east of the Rockies, that’s why we are dedicating ‘The Country & Western Tour’ to the folks that have been here from day one! This tour is absolutely stacked with talent and we’re bringing it back to where it all started…The West,” proclaims Munsick. “These will be our biggest and best shows yet and I cannot wait to show you what we’ve built over the last few years. Get your tickets before it’s too late!”

Ticket presales began today (April 10), and general sales will start this Friday (April 12). For more information, click here.

Boot Barn is sponsoring the tour, and has named the artist as a brand ambassador under newly-launched Boot Barn Live program. Additionally, Munsick’s “Boots, Buckles & Bolos Tour” is currently underway, and he plans to support Lainey Wilson on her “Country’s Cool Again Tour” this summer.

Record label and distribution company ONErpm has signed Nashville singer-songwriter Britnee Kellogg.

The former American Idol contestant developed a love for country music at the age of six, after attending a Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash concert. Now a 39-year-old mother of three, she aims to craft songs that resonate with others.

Kellogg previously released “She’s Come a Long Way,” which celebrates women who have overcome adversity. Her new single “Hell in a Handbag” approaches that same theme with a different lens. Produced by Autumn McEntire and Jared Conrad and written by Tori Tullier, Alyssa Micaela and Olivia Rudeen, the tune is set for release this Friday (April 12).

“We know how fortunate we are to work with Britnee. Her songs express a point of view we rarely get to hear today,” says Shelby Kennedy, Director of A&R, ONErpm Nashville. “At ONErpm, we believe ‘unique deserves unique,’ and that is why we are extremely excited to work with such a strong new talent.”

Additionally, Kellogg is booked by The Kinkead Entertainment Agency, and has shared the stage with artists such as Blake Shelton, Eric Paslay, Kane Brown, Keith Urban, Lee Brice and Little Big Town. She is currently performing across nation, while writing and recording new music.

Hit songwriter-producer Tofer Brown has extended his partnership with Concord Music Publishing.

Brown is a producer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist whose catalog boasts over 150 recorded songs, including Jon Pardi’s three times-Platinum “Night Shift,” Little Big Town’s double-Platinum single “Wine, Beer, Whiskey” and Lady A’s “Ocean,” as well as over 100 sync placements across TV and film. The multi-genre creator has had songs cut by artists including Walker Hayes, Lauren Daigle, Jason Mraz, Tim McGraw, Keith Urban, Matt Nathanson, Tyler Hubbard, Carly Pearce and many others.

Currently, Brown is on the country charts as a co-writer of “Can’t Break Up Now” by Old Dominion and Megan Moroney, which the two recently performed on the CMT Music Awards. He is also a co-writer and producer on Ruelle’s “War of Hearts” that just crossed 150 million streams on Spotify.

“There’s a lot of great publishers in Nashville, but Concord has always embraced my desire to want to work in multiple genres and different styles,” he tells MusicRow. “They understand sync and pop, and working with global artists. I’ve always appreciated their understanding that there’s more music outside of Nashville, too. As much as they celebrate this town, they know there’s more beyond.”

When it came to extending his partnership with the Concord team in Music City, it was a no-brainer for Brown.

“I love my whole team. Brad Kennard came into the picture [when I was at Razor & Tie]. He’s great,” Brown says. “Jen Hubbard has been so crucial to understanding a lot of my stuff outside of Nashville.” Brown adds, “I’ve also gotten the pleasure of working with Courtney Allen, who is the champion of all champions for Nashville songwriters.”

In addition to his deal extension, Brown will continue working with Concord on his JV Chromatic Music, the company he established in 2022 that focuses on the development and mentorship of talent from all genres and skillsets. Its roster includes songwriter Lauren Hungate, a co-writer on Bailey Zimmerman’s buzzy new single “Holy Smokes.”

Brown connected with Hungate during the pandemic when he set up a platform on Instagram for new songwriters to submit their music to him for constructive feedback due to the lack of opportunities for in-person writer rounds, meetings and networking opportunities. Of the over 500 songs he received, Hungate’s material was the cream of the crop.

“I’ve always had such a strong desire for mentoring and bringing up the next generation,” Brown says. “Lauren is crushing it. She has been building her network at lightning speed because of how unbelievably good she is and how great she is with people.”